Clamp bracket for outboard motor

ABSTRACT

A clamp bracket for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of a boat, the bracket has two inverted U-shaped clamp members connected by pivot pin. The inside leg of each clamp member is resiliently biased toward an open position to facilitate mounting the motor on transoms of varying thicknesses. The legs of each clamp member are clamped into bearing engagement with the transom by means of an interconnecting clamp screw.

11 United States stem 1111 3 43 [72] lnventor Elmer Carl Kiekhaeier [56] R f e Cited 7 g 'i'fi F UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,726,316 8/1929 Saxton 248/215 2 379 256 6/1945 5 m 248/4 [45] Patented mm '0' c eisner [73] Assignee Brunswick Corporation Primary Examiner.l. Franklin Foss Chicago, Ill. Attorney-Roy T. Montgomery 6a F QE R OUTBOARD MOTOR ABSTRACT: A clamp bracket for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of a boat, the bracket has two inverted [521 US. Cl. 24 8/4, U-shaped clamp members connected by pivot pin. The inside 1 15/17 leg of each clamp member is resiliently biased toward an open [51] int. Cl 1563b 21/26 position to facilitate mounting the motor on transoms of vary- [50] Field 0! Search 248/4, 214, ing thicknesses. The legs of each clamp member are clamped 215, 226, 316 D, 316 B, 226 E, 226 R; 115/17, 18; into bearing engagement with the transom by means of an in- 24/255 R, 255 VA, 259 R, 259 FC terconnecting clamp screw.

PATENTEB AUEIOIQ?! 3, 598,348

SHEET 1 OF 2 JNVENTOR. ELMER CARL KIKHAEFR A ttor-nej PATENTEDwmmQn 3,598,348

sum 2 {1F 2 INVENTOR. ELMER CARL K/EKHAEFER After/1g CLAMP BRACKET FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional clamp brackets are constructed of inverted U= shaped members which are relatively rigid and have an open= ing which is oversize with respect to the transom. These mem bars are then clamped on a transom by means of a thumb screw which is threaded through the inside leg of the member and bears against the inside of the transom. Such brackets are held on the transom by the frictional engagement of the outer leg and the end oi the thumb screw. Motors mounted in such a manner have a tendency to work of? the transom in operation. To remedy this, a separate bolt has been provided which ex= tends through the transom and connects the lower portion of the outer leg thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The clamp bracket of this invention provides a pair of spaced inverted U=shaped mounting members which have an opening which is, in their free condition, substantially larger than the transom. The inside leg of each clamp member is resilient and can be clamped into bearing engagement with the transom. Such clamping is accomplished in one embodiment by means of a bolt which extends through the transom and clamps the legs together. In a second embodiment, the clamping is accomplished by means ot a thumb screw extending through the inside leg and the transom and into threaded engagement with the outside leg. Thus, a single connection is provided for each member which engages the transom by friction and by extending thercthrough.

The present bracket retains the ability to be mounted on transoms of varying thickness while being more effective in holding the motor on the transom than conventional clamp brackets and simpler to mount than conventional brackets using rcenforcing bolts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevation of an outboard motor mounted on a transom by the clamp bracket of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation looking from the right of FIG. 1 with parts in section showing the bracket of this invention in an unclamped position.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 showing the bracket in a clamped position and a second type of clamp screw.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of an outboard motor mounted on a transom by the clamp bracket of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, there is shown an outboard motor having an upper cowl I1 enclosing an engine (not shown), a drive shaft housing 12 and a lower unit (not shown).

The motor 10 is carried by a swivel bracket 14 for swivel movement about a vertical steering axis (indicated generally by I5).

Two spaced inverted U-shapcd clamp members 16 and 17 are provided for clamping over the transom I9 of a boat. The clamp members 16, 17 are interconnected by a pivot pin or tilt tube 20. The pivot pin 20 extends through a horizontally disposed sleeve portion 21 of the swivel bracket M. The clamp members 16, 17 are secured to the pivot pin 20 by means of nuts 22, 23 threaded thereon at each end which secure the members 16, 17 against the respective ends of the sleeve portion 21.

Each inverted U-shaped clamp member 16, 17 has an upper body 25 with an inside and outside leg 26, 27 extending downwardly therefrom. Each leg 26, 27 has an inner bearing surface 28 for bearing against the transom 19 when the legs are clamped together thereon. Each outside leg 27 has a rearwardly extending arm 30 thereon with spaced holes 31 therein. A tilt pin 32 is carried through the proper holes 31 to provide an abutment means for the swivel bracket 14 resulting in proper trim olthe motor 10.

The inside leg 26 of each clamp member 16, 17 is resiliently biased toward an open or unclamped position, as shown best in FIG. 2. The outside leg 27 of each clamp member 16, I7 is rigidly connected to the upper body 25. Thus, the engine can readily be installed over transorns of any thickness within a given range.

Means are provided for clamping the legs 25, 26 of the members 16, 17 together onto the transom 19. Such means are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a standard bolt 33 extending through the legs 26, 27 and transom 19 with a standard nut 34 threaded on the bolt opposite the bolt head 35. A washer 36 is mounted between the head 35 and the outside leg 37 and a second washer is mounted between the nut 34 and the inside leg 26.

The means for clamping are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as a clamp screw 38 which is inserted through the inside leg 26. The screw 33 extends transom I9 and into threaded engagement with the outside leg 27.

The clamp screw 33 comprises an elongated hand grip portion 39 fixedly secured to and generally perpendicular to a shank 40. The shank 40 has an enlarged portion 41 adjacent the hand grip 39 which terminates in a shoulder 42 for bearing against the inside leg 26 when clamped there against. Adjacent the enlarged portion 41 of the shank 40 is an intermediate portion 43 which extends through the inside lcg 26 and the transom 19. The shank 40 terminates ina threaded end portion 44 which engages the corresponding threaded hole 45 in the outside leg 27.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

I. A bracket for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of a boat, the bracket comprising:

a. an inverted U-shaped clamp member having the motor rotatably mounted thereon, s id m ember having an upper body portion and spaced inside and outside legs extending downwardly therefrom, one of said legs being rigidly connected to said upper body portion, each said leg having an inner bearing surface for bearing against the respective side of the transom when clamped there against, the other of said legs being resiliently biased toward an open position with respect to said body; and

b. means extending through the transom for clamping the legs of said member against the transom.

2. The bracket of claim I wherein the openly biased leg is the inside leg.

3. The bracket of claim 1 wherein said means for clamping comprises a screw having a handgrip and a shank connected thereto, said shank having an enlarged portion adjacent the handgrip which terminates in a shoulder for bearing engagement against the inside leg, an intermediate portion adjacent the enlarged portion for extending through the inside leg and the transom, and a threaded end portion adjacent the intermediate portion for engaging a threaded hole in the outside leg.

4. The bracket of claim 3 wherein the openly biased leg is the inside leg. v

5. A bracket for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of a boat, the bracket comprising:

a. a pair of inverted U-shaped clamp members interconnected by a horizontally disposed pivot pin upon which the motor is rotatably mounted, each of said members having an upper body portion and spaced inside and out- 7 side legs extending downwardly therefrom, one of said legs being rigidly connected to said upper body portion, each said leg having an inncr bearing surface for hearing against the respective side of the transom when clamped thcreagainst, the other of said legs being resiliently biased toward na open position with respect to said body; and

meat againat the inside leg, an intermediate portion adjacent the enlarged portion for extending through the inside leg and the transom, and a threaded end portion adjacent the intermediate portion for engaging a threaded hole in the outside leg.

8. The bracket of claim 7 wherein the openly biased leg is the lnaide leg. 

1. A bracket for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of a boat, the bracket comprising: a. an inverted U-shaped clamp member having the motor rotatably mounted thereon, said member having an upper body portion and spaced inside and outside legs extending downwardly therefrom, one of said legs being rigidly connected to said upper body portion, each said leg having an inner bearing surface for bearing against the respective side of the transom when clamped there against, the other of said legs being resiliently biased toward an open position with respect to said body; and b. means extending through the transom for clamping the legs of said member against the transom.
 2. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the openly biased leg is the inside leg.
 3. The bracket of claim 1 wherein said means for clamping comprises a screw having a handgrip and a shank connected thereto, said shank having an enlarged portion adjacent the handgrip which terminates in a shoulder for bearing engagement against the inside leg, an intermediate portion adjacent the enlarged portion for extending through the inside leg and the transom, and a threaded end portion adjacent the intermediate portion for engaging a threaded hole in the outside leg.
 4. The bracket of claim 3 wherein the openly biased leg is the inside leg.
 5. A bracket for mounting an outboard motor on the transom of a boat, the bracket comprising: a. a pair of inverted U-shaped clamp members interconnected by a horizontally disposed pivot pin upon which the motor is rotatably mounted, each of said members having an upper body portion and spaced inside and outside legs extending downwardly therefrom, one of said legs being rigidly conNected to said upper body portion, each said leg having an inner bearing surface for bearing against the respective side of the transom when clamped thereagainst, the other of said legs being resiliently biased toward an open position with respect to said body; and b. means extending through the transom for clamping the legs of said members against the transom.
 6. The bracket of claim 5 wherein the openly biased leg is the inside leg.
 7. The bracket of claim 5 wherein said means for clamping comprises a screw having a handgrip and a shank connected thereto, said shank having an enlarged portion adjacent the handgrip which terminates in a shoulder for bearing engagement against the inside leg, an intermediate portion adjacent the enlarged portion for extending through the inside leg and the transom, and a threaded end portion adjacent the intermediate portion for engaging a threaded hole in the outside leg.
 8. The bracket of claim 7 wherein the openly biased leg is the inside leg. 